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Threaded Order Chronological Order
| INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | AC126748 07:40 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| The power of this shattering production is evident in the audience behavior it produces: at today's matinee, I didn't notice any texters, talkers, fidgeters, candy munchers, or snorers. The audience sat rapt until the stunning final tableau, then erupted in warm applause. As others have mentioned, this production makes the case for this play as, if not exactly a masterpiece, a solid work that should be produced more frequently. In the central roles, Richard Thomas and Darren Pettie are beyond reproach; director Michael Wilson draws fine work from the large ensemble cast, which includes James Carpinello, Jonny Orsini, Derek Smith, and Jonathan Hadary (perfect in a nearly wordless role). The final performance is tomorrow afternoon, and thankfully this production has been filmed for public consumption at a later date. I rank it among the best productions I've seen from Signature in the past decade. | |
| reply to this message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | twocents 01:17 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - AC126748 07:40 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| among the best productions I've seen from Signature in the past decade. Sure. Glad I chose it over Night is a Room on Thursday, though that seemed also good. a solid work that should be produced more frequently. Not so fast, huge cast! I wouldn't want to pay those bucks. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | JayBee 06:43 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - AC126748 07:40 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| Agree. Certainly one of the best productions I have seen this season. The only one I would consIder seeing a second time, in fact. Unfortunately, those filmed plays are dismal reproductions of the real thing , so anyone who missed it live will have little idea of its true impact by watching it on PBS. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | Ann 07:45 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - JayBee 06:43 am EST 12/20/15 |
| Actually, most people don't even have the opportunity to watch it on PBS. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | wmgrad1976 12:40 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - Ann 07:45 am EST 12/20/15 |
| If you have a computer and are hooked up to the Internet you can. | |
| Link | Theater Close-Up |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| I think nope | |
| Posted by: | Ann 01:03 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - wmgrad1976 12:40 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Maybe something has changed, but based on previous showings, they detect your location and you have to be in the viewing area (I think they have occasionally been late to apply that, and there are ways around it, but that had been the policy) - the videos at the link don't play for me, but I haven't gotten the error/warning message I had gotten before. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: I think nope | |
| Posted by: | wmgrad1976 01:06 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | I think nope - Ann 01:03 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Wow. I had no idea. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: I think nope | |
| Posted by: | Ann 01:35 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: I think nope - wmgrad1976 01:06 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| Don't you feel sorry for us? ;) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: I think nope | |
| Posted by: | wmgrad1976 01:55 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: I think nope - Ann 01:35 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| I do now, yes! I missed "Rasheeda Speaking" on stage and DVRed it when it was on PBS, but accidentally deleted it and was thrilled I could watch online. BTW, I enjoyed it very much. I just assumed everyone had that option. Damn them. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | davei2000 01:02 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - wmgrad1976 12:40 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| That's supposed to lock out anyone who doesn't have a local connection, though it doesn't always work properly. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | davei2000 09:02 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - Ann 07:45 am EST 12/20/15 |
| Yes, Theater Closeup only airs in NY. And I'd be surprised if most people lucky enough to see them agree with JayBee. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | Thom915 11:25 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - davei2000 09:02 am EST 12/20/15 |
| I am so grateful that I saw it live but regardless I do look forward to seeing it again on television and recommend anyone who missed this well produced and exquisitely performed production to see it on television. Hopefully enough good will come through the different medium to move you as I was moved in the theater. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | den 09:49 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| In reply to: | INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - AC126748 07:40 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| Agreed. This is not a very good play -- far too schematic -- but this is a brilliant and moving production with a top flight cast, especially the incomparable Richard Thomas. So glad it has been recorded for broadcast. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | twocents 01:06 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - den 09:49 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| Thankful I saw it with the extension. But I was upset to miss John Procaccino! But his character is gone in maybe five minutes anyway. Love ya, John. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | gad90210 08:44 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| In reply to: | INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - AC126748 07:40 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| That is high praise indeed. I loved this production also, and I'm very thankful I got to see it. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - gad90210 08:44 pm EST 12/19/15 |
| I have to say I completely disagree with the general trend of this thread. I think it's an amazing play -- much under-appreciated in it's time because it is more of a '30s play than a '60s play. And I'd love to see it really well acted and directed. But this struck me as a really B- production in every respect except the set. I wish I had seen the original with Hal Holbrook and Joseph Wiseman, directed by Harold Clurman. This seemed like a pretty weak-tea version. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | twocents 01:08 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| The set actually teed me off! The men have way too much space to sit in. In the original production, and in Miller's mind, it was one long bench, AFAIK. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | TomE 06:22 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| I think it's an excellent play that received a very good but uneven production at Signature -- one which made the text sound more clunky and preachy than it has to. I also thought the very last image of the shadow of a train was a heavy-handed touch that detracted from an otherwise effective ending. As I remember it, the production at TACT five or six years ago was considerably better. However, I did think that Richard Thomas in the current production was a highlight of all the four versions I'm familiar with. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | AC126748 01:16 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| The play itself is a potboiler crossed with a morality play, and structurally formulaic. The dialogue is often too on the nose; at other times, it strains to be poetic or philosophical. Yet, when done well -- and I believe that in this production, it is done exceedingly well -- it can be engrossing and moving. I'm sorry you didn't feel the same way about the production. | |
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| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | Budinsky 12:57 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| While I don't agree that Miller's play is "amazing," I heartily concur with your reaction to the current production, which I thought was a bore from start to finish. I have no idea what posters praising it saw on stage that I missed. Performances were either clichéd, weak or both. Direction was static and unconvincing. I found it difficult to keep my eyes open and trained on the stage. | |
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| INCIDENT AT VICHY: | |
| Posted by: | FinalPerformance 09:10 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| A shame this play is closing today because so many people will not get to see it. I was able to catch it last night and the cast was terrific. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: | |
| Posted by: | twocents 01:10 pm EST 12/21/15 |
| In reply to: | INCIDENT AT VICHY: - FinalPerformance 09:10 am EST 12/20/15 |
| It was awesome theater, Final. Even from the second row! ;) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 05:10 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| Have you seen the excellent PBS production from 1973, which is available on DVD? Great photo of Wiseman and Holbrook at the link. Such an uncharacteristic role for Holbrook. | |
| Link | Vichy — Wayne, Wiseman, Holbrook |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | owk 08:14 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - AlanScott 05:10 am EST 12/20/15 |
| Thanks for the recommendation. I will definitely find it. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | Ann 07:48 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - AlanScott 05:10 am EST 12/20/15 |
| Thanks very much for mentioning this. Those who still have the DVD option with their Netflix membership can get it there. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 10:01 pm EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - Ann 07:48 am EST 12/20/15 |
| The last time I watched it, when I had out of the library a couple of years ago, I thought it held up well. I just recently ordered my own copy of it but it hasn't arrived yet so it's been a while since I've seen it. Yeah, I don't have Netflix. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never | |
| Posted by: | NeoAdamite 01:41 am EST 12/20/15 |
| In reply to: | re: INCIDENT AT VICHY: better late than never - owk 12:08 am EST 12/20/15 |
| But this struck me as a really B- production in every respect except the set. I wish I had seen the original with Hal Holbrook and Joseph Wiseman, directed by Harold Clurman. I can imagine a stronger production, but I still recommended it to everyone. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
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